Start burnin, burnin’ baby

Fire (Uh) [Uh]
Fire (It’s all about) [Uh, uh]
Fire (Woo, woo, woo)
Fire


He's on fire alright.  Or at least he will be.  Well maybe not reeeaaaally on fire, but burning for sure.  
Doug finally went to the cardiologist yesterday and they are going to schedule an ablation for him sometime next month.  Why does he need an ablation?  Because he has SVT.  What's SVT?  What in the world is an ablation?!  This is SVT and this is what an ablation is.  It's not invasive and he shouldn't feel any pain from it.  Some discomfort, yeah and he will most likely be awake for the procedure.  The doctor said he may or may not need to stay the night, so that's good news.  I'll be sure to keep everyone posted as to when and all that good stuff.
My sister in law Jan just had surgery too.  They removed her gallbladder this past Monday so hopefully she won't have any more pain or discomfort when she eats certain things.  It's a good thing we can get parts replaced/removed for our loved ones so we can keep them around for a while!
Overall, everything else is going well.  School is about to start up again for us.  I'm taking 4 classes, all online, and I think Doug is taking either 4 or 5 that he has to go to campus for.  The craziness is about to begin for us.  I'm happy that we are getting our degrees and bettering our lives, but I don't like the lack of time we have with each other once school is in session.  Oh well.  It's not forever.  I can suck it up.
Zach is going for his 9 month check up on Monday.  9 MONTHS!!!  Seriously?!?!?!  Where is time going?!  He is getting so big and so independent.  He has decided that he no longer wants ANY baby food, only big boy food.  I did give him some baby oatmeal this morning, and he was not thrilled with that so it's probably the next thing to go.  He does well with everything.  He hasn't encountered anything that he doesn't like.  Fruit is his favorite though.
I'm working on some artsy crafty things, but I don't want to post pictures yet because one of them is a gift for someone.  Once they have their gift, I'll post the pictures.
I should go.  Zach is screaming at me...as usual.


love
Sarah 

Because it's my story

     Today marks the day of my mom's passing.  It has been 12 long years since I said goodbye to her.  I always feel guilty that I feel the need to talk about it or that I'm still sad.  I was talking to my friend Jen yesterday and I explained that to her and she gave me great advice.  She said I shouldn't feel guilty because this is my story.
     It's true.  Everyone has one.  A story that is.  I don't think that my mom's death defines who I am, but it definitely plays a part.  So many people have said "it's been how many years and you're still not over it?", "she's watching you from up above", "you know she loves you and would want you to move on".  I could continue, but then that would take up so much space.  I don't think people really understand the hurt and longing for ones mother until they experience it.  Yes, it has been 12 years, but it doesn't mean I miss her any less.  If anything, I miss her more.  So much has happened since her death.  So many good things.  So many wonderful things that I wish I could talk to her about, laugh about and cry about with her.  Please save the "she's watching...she knows" line.  That's great but who wouldn't want the real thing?  Honestly, I don't think it's the actual "day" that saddens me.  It's the day before.  I think about sitting in her hospital room alone with her, holding her hand and in between tears and sobs telling her that it was ok for her to go...to die...and she did a few hours later.
     My biggest secret that I carry with me is that I get so jealous when I see other children (mostly those that are my age) with their mothers.  The other half of that secret is I can't stand when I hear them say how annoying their mothers are and that they get on their nerves.  I would give anything for my mother to "get on my nerves" again.
     As time goes on, I learn to "deal" with it.  I go about my days and think of her often during them.  I often cry for her when something profound happens in my life and I cry every time I see her in a dream.  I look in my sons eyes and get lost in the beautiful blue that they are, just like my mom's.  I think about all of the fun "motherly" things she did with me and my brother.  Dressing us up in homemade Halloween costumes because we couldn't afford store bought ones, taking a drive just to get away, mother/daughter days of laughing and tickling.  I adored our days in Harpers Ferry WV and the long walks we took over the historic land and then ended our day with ice cream.  I loved to sit and watch her put on her makeup in the morning and pull back her long auburn hair in a pony tail.  I miss the way my hands felt in hers and the way she smelled.  I have kept a bottle of perfume for the last 12 years.  It is one that she wore all of the time.  Sometimes I open it to "smell her" and surprisingly after all this time, it still smells exactly the same.  I know that may seem a little odd, but it helps somehow.
  I hope that I am half of the mother that she was.

because she loved them

my mom with my great grandfather

Our homemade costumes.  We were cabbage patch kids!

Kimberly Lorene Fink
August 16, 1962- August 3, 1998

 

So long to the mush!

Zach has decided within the past few days that he no longer wants baby food.  He turns his head every time I try to shove it in there.  Downside...I just bought a crap load of baby food for him.  Upside...this has made us eat at the table as a family and forced me to cook for myself because I'm cooking for him as well.

 This is mild compared to what it can look like!

We also had dinner with our friend Charisse who is getting ready to start law school at the University of Richmond.  We tried out a new restaurant in Suffolk called The Plaid Turnip.  It was actually pretty good!  Zach enjoyed it.  I'm not sure if you can tell by his shirt, but he did like it!

Charisse, Zach, Doug and myself at The Plaid Turnip

That is all for now...

Love

Sarah

Shower and a Soapbox

This past weekend we made another trip to NOVA for my cousin Beth's baby shower.  It was such a cute shower and she got a ton of stuff that she will need.  My aunt Tara and cousin Lexi were able to fly over from Texas to attend the shower!  It was nice to see them again. Zach kept handing out kisses to my aunt and everyone that asked for one.  I know my dad is going to be so jealous!  I wish I had gotten some pictures of it.
My aunts from PA also came down to visit with their kiddos.  It was nice to spend time with them and just talk.  Poor Doug.  He was the only guy among 6 girls (plus 1 8month old boy and a 3 year old boy).  My brother was able to hang out with us at times, but Doug still needed some non-shopping guy time, so he hung out at Barnes and Noble and a couple of other "men only" shops.  Yeah...you read that right.  We were right outside of DC and we were shopping.  It was toooooooo hot to do anything else.  Seriously, 105 is stupid hot.  Doug wanted to take the metro into DC and go to a museum, but his idea was vetoed.  Remember...6 girls?  It's a good thing we didn't because when we were leaving the mall the skies opened up and rain POURED down.  I heard on the radio as we drove home that a lot of the metro was closed due to tree limbs blocking the tracks that we would have needed to get back to our cars.
Speaking of DC...I know I spent most of my childhood in that area, but let me just jump up on my soapbox for a minute...aaaheeem....WHAT IS WRONG WITH YOU PEOPLE?!?!?!  Why is it that once you come off of any other highway onto one that ends in 5 (495, 95, 695, 295...etc) everyone forgets how to drive?!?!?!  They drove me craaaaaaaazy all down 495 and 95.  Yes...it was raining and I know that we haven't seen it in a while, but admire it and keep driving!!  When you see an accident on the OTHER side of the BARRIER WALL, don't try to see what's going on!!!  That's how you cause accidents on OUR side!!!  Hence the 2 cars that apparently hit and one caused the other to spin around and face the opposite direction of traffic.  PAY ATTENTION!!  When you are driving down a "hill", don't be afraid and brake the whole way down...just drive!!  If you are unable to drive next to a wall barrier in a construction zone without using 2 lanes of traffic (my lane included in that 2)...switch me lanes because clearly you can't handle it.  You live in the DC metro area for petes sake!!  You should be used to construction barriers!!!  Please don't stop for everyday normal sightings.  You're used to it...move on.  Why didn't we stop for the random treadmill on the side of 95?  That's not normal and yet we were all NASCAR racing past that!!!  LAAAAAAWWWWWD!!!  I'm glad I don't have any trips planned to DC any time soon!!  I need at least a couple of weeks or maybe months to relax from the drive!!  Ok...stepping down now...whew...thanks.

*~Sarah~*

He's an Eagle!

That's right folks.  This past weekend me and the boys ventured to Northern VA to see my brother become and Eagle Scout!  What an honor for him!  It took him a long time, but he finally made it.  It was a very nice ceremony and afterward we went out to dinner for his 19th birthday!  I can't believe he is 19 already.  I still feel like he is a little boy.

We had a really good time and we will be going back this weekend for my cousin Beth's baby shower!  My aunts and their kiddos are coming down too so I will get the chance to see them!!  I'm very excited!!

Other than that, we are doing well.  Zach is...how do I put this...becoming a handful.  Everyone kept telling me "just wait until he gets a little older, he will be a handful!"  I think that time has come.  The boy just screams and screams at the top of his lungs when he wants something or doesn't get his way!!  I can tell our going out to eat experiences will be coming to an end shortly since he likes to show everyone how loud he can get while we eat.  How do you stop and 8 month old from doing this or do you just let him scream?  I mean, he is only 8 months.

Well...I've been up for 3 hours now (it's only 830) so I guess I should be some what productive.

Smooches!! 

love,

Sarah

Happy Belated 4th!

I meant to post something much earlier than today, but you know...things happen.  So here I am a week after the 4th wishing you a Happy 4th of July!!
Ours was good.  We spent the day at my cousins house in Norfolk swimming in their neighborhood pool.  NIIIIICE!!!  The pool felt so good.  The sidewalk area around the pool...that was a different story.  That could have burned your feet off.  My cousin brought my uncle over and he joined us in the pool.  Poor guy.  His balance isn't that great these day (well, most days) and he really wasn't liking walking around in the pool, so he sat and observed us from the steps of the pool.  He made a little friend while he sat there.  A cute little blonde haired girl kept hanging on the railing saying "Hey!  Watch me!  Watch what I can do!  Did you see that?!"  It was pretty entertaining...for us at least.  After hours at the pool, and 2 naps for Zach, we went and had dinner together.  As usual, it was delicious.

The next day was spent at Doug's parents home in VA Beach.  They got the kids a little baby pool and once again, Zach was in it.  It was a good time.  Clay made delicious ribs and corn on the cob on the grill.  Zach really enjoyed that.  He thinks he's a big boy.

Does she look like trouble?

I joined a mommy and me group where I live.  This is very out of character for me.  I don't normally seek out new people.  I'm content just hanging out at home and talking to people I already know.  Believe it or not, I'm a little shy.  But, I had a really good time.  The women were all really friendly and I felt like I had known them for a long time instead of just a couple of hours.  Another nice thing about this group is all the moms are from my city and a neighboring county.  They get together a few times a week for play dates, lunches, brunches, movies, pool parties, trips to the museums, etc.  It's nice to have adult conversations with other moms!  Believe me, I LOVE LOVE LOVE being able to stay home with Zach, but sometimes you just need to adult contact!!  Ya know?!

My girlfriend Kammy cut my hair last week.  It's shoooort!!  Much shorter than I've ever had it before!  I like it though!  It's off my neck and it's pretty much wash and wear.  It's so easy to take care of.  I'll post some pictures when I take some.

Zach has had me almost to my breaking point the last couple of days.  The boy has been teething something fierce and he has just been miserable.  Nothing I did made him feel any better (hence the breaking point comment).  The other day he just cried and cried and screamed.  Before he goes to bed he gets a bottle, so I made him one and gave him some motrin to help his pain.  I fed him and rocked him and in return he puked all over me, all over himself and our leather recliner.  I took him in the bedroom, changed us both and then went back out to the living room to clean the chair and discovered one of my dogs standing there doing it for me.  I needed a drink after that day.  I think Zach could have used one too.

This coming up Sunday (the 18th) we are heading to Norther VA for my brother's Eagle Scout Court of Honor.  The ceremony will be on the same day as his 19th birthday!!  19?!?!?!  Where in the world does time go?  I look at him and still see my little 7 year old baby brother.  Aaaahhh...tear.

Time to clean up my Inner Martha projects...yes yes, I will post pictures when I'm finished with them!

Love,

S~

PS...Do you just want to smooch this face, or is it just me?!  

Teeth Teeth and More Teeth

That's what I wanted to start with today.  Teeth.  Zach is getting more and more!!  I know, it happens, but why does it happen so fast and all at the same time?  Last night he was using me as his jungle gym, like he usually does, and he bit me!  The little monster bit me!!  It hurt so bad I nearly threw him off of me!!  He bit me right on my chest...the meaty part.  Those little things are sharp!!  They are just like puppy teeth!!  Aahh...oh well.  Comes with being a mom, right?

Know what else comes with being a mom?  Taking funny pictures of your children!!

That's right.  I put a diaper on his head.  Well, actually Doug did.  We laughed and laughed and Zach did too!

Fathers Day was a couple weeks ago and I let my inner Martha out to make this for my father in law. 

"My Grandpa Rocks"...get it?  Because it's a rock?

Anywho...The weather yesterday was great!!  The temperature has dropped about 11 degrees so it was right around 80 and should be that way until Saturday.  I can't wait!!  Having the windows and doors open is wonderful!!  Zach likes it too. 

Ok.  Two more things.  1.)  Look what he can do!!  He's getting so big!  

and 2.)  Is it just me or does he look like he's a few too many?  

That's all for now!!

Love

Sarah